New Smoke Alarms

 Hi,
I'm currently in the proccess of purchasing a house, which only has a
few smoke alarms in it.  I'd like to replace them when we finally close
on the house, with new ones, so I know the date they were installed.   I
do not want to tear the walls/ceilings of the house apart, but I would
like to have interconnected alarms.   Does anyone know of any battery
alarms that might talk to each other via some type of RF link?

~ Matt

 

Matt wrote:

You did not specifically say it, but are you sure they are not
interconnected?

 Retiredff wrote:


I do not know for sure.   I'm thinking they aren't as I didn't see a
seperate breaker box in the basement, but it's possible they got wired
into the same electrical box as everything else.  I don't THINK they are
interconnected.. but even if they were.. there are still some missing
from areas I'd like to put them in, and to interconnect I'd have to rip
up ceilings/walls, wouldn't I?

 

Matt wrote:

I've never seen a breaker for the detectors only. Not sure if it is allowed,
but would not think they are. You know, someone burns dinner, they turn off
the breaker, then forget to turn it back on.

If you remove the unit, should just be a 1/4" or so twist, and take a look
at the wiring. There should be three wires on the plug that plugs into the
unit. Two of them are the house wiring. The third is the interconnect wire.
It is only about six inches long. If it is not being used, then it should
just be shoved into the elec. box, behind the adaptor plate.

You are right about tearing up the drywall. A good electrition could do with
minimal damage. If this is a one-story house, and you have attic access
(which you should) then you could run the wiring without any damage.

 Thanks,
I'm familiar with them and how they work (they are in my apartment where
I am living now).
The house in question is a 2 story house with attic access.
In the apartment there is a breaker for them, but they also run off
battery (albeit.. they don't talk to each other when only on battery).

I know I saw some RF units they were about $50 a piece though, I
think... would be nice though... I suppose I could always conduit.. but
then there is the issue of running to every room!